Citing one “industry insider”, The Times found that up to one million viewers watch illegal streams each week.

It will be welcome news for the likes of Sky and BT, which have shelled out £5.1bn for the rights to show live Premier League games for the next three years, as well as the advertisers buying the costly ad spots.

Keeping both on side is a priority for the Premier League, given its whole business model was “predicated on being able to deliver viewers”, The Times concluded.